Gate latch



' A.G.BELT.

I --GATE LATCH.

(ModeL) Patented Oct. 10, 1882;.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED G. BELT, OF AULLVILLE, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOHN P. HERB, OF SAME PLACE.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,738, dated October 10, 1882,

Application filed April20, 1882. (Model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED O. BELT, of Aullville, Lafayette county, Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Gate and Door Latch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in gate-latches, and has for its object, primarily, to enable persons on horseback to conveniently open and close the gate without dismounting, and to prevent the lifting of'the gate and the unlat ching and opening it by hogs, which would allow them to escape from theinclosure.

The nature of my invention consists of a gravity lever or latch arranged obliquely to the front edge of the gate, shutter, or door, its shorter arm disposed below its fulcrunr and its longer arm above that point and operating in a guide, while its lower end is provided with a notch or beak adapted to engage a stud or catch on the gate-post or other surface, sub stantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a farm-gate with a latch contrived according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view, and Fig. 3 is an elevation, ofa pair of window-shutters having my improved gravity-latch applied, shorter and more ornamental. Fig. 4 is a section showing the spring-catch.

A represents the stile, and B the bars of a farm-gate, hinged to the post 0 and swinging to and past the post D.

E represents the lever-latch, which is pivoted to the stile A near the bottom, at F, and inclined rearwardly along the gate to a point a little back of the upper end of the stile A, where the handle G projects above the top of the gate suitably for being seized to open the gate by one either afoot or on horseback. Below the top of the gate the lever works in a suitable guard, H, and below the pivot F the engaging end I swings past thejoint between the stile and the post and latches with the post-catch J by anotch on its uppermost side, which engages with the said catch-stud by the upward swing of the lower arm of the latch, so that hogs lifting upward on the gate cannot open it. The long handlearm of the latch swings the short arm up in this manner and automatically engages and keeps it engaged with the post-catch by its superior weight. The same latch may be used to fasten the gate open, and for this quality itis adesirable fastening for shutters K, the lower endsprojecting past the edges of the shutters, as shown in Fig. 3, so that they will engage with stud-catches similar to J, to be attached to the wall, suitably for engaging them when the shutters swing open.

I propose to employ spring-catch g (which may be made as shown in Fig. 4) at the top of the gate, and in connection with the projecting upper end of the lever, if need be, to pre- "ent stock from unlatching the gate by rubbingagainst the 'upper end of the lever. This springcatch consists of a springmetal bar fastened to a slat of the gate at one end, and having a stud or projection at its other end which springs into a notch or aperture in the upper end of the lever or latch as the latter falls by gravity into its locking position. Slight pressure exerted inwardly upon the catch will release it from the lever arid allow the latter to be operated when it is desired to unlatch the gate. In its application to doors or shutters the spring-catch 9 may be placed so as to be entirely under the handle, access to the same being had from the inside by a hole through thedoor or shutter or by ahandle connected with the said springcatch. With this arrangement the latch will be secured from being opened from the outside.

For application to shutters, yard-gates, 850., the latch may be made ornamental and varied in form, as may be required, within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention,Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination, with a door, gate, or shutcatch,'g, while its lower end has a notch or beak to engage the catch or stud J, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ALFRED O. BELT.

Witnesses:

D. A. RIDGWAY, HENRY H. HENDRICKS. 

